Patient transport and triage

Abstract

Provided are patient transport and triage methods for use with a mission control computing device configured to execute and implement one or more application modules, and in operative communication over a network with a sender computing device and a dispatch computing device each operable to display one or more dashboards and/or input screens, and with one or more static or dynamic mission control datasets. The networked methods provide a technical solution for improving patient transport and triage by providing, confirming and sharing patient acuity and transport information among multiple relevant parties at the same time to provide better patient outcomes. Also provided are systems for implementing the methods, and computer readable media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing the methods.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A triaged patient transport method for use with a mission control computing device configured to execute and implement one or more application modules, and in operative communication over a network with a sender computing device, a dispatch computing device, and a receiver computing device, each operable to display one or more dashboards and/or input screens, and with one or more static or dynamic mission control datasets, the method comprising:
 receiving, by an acuity module (AM), inputted patient and transportation information from the sender computing device, and generating by the AM a patient acuity score and a patient transport plan, wherein the transport plan comprises a sending location, an appropriate receiving location, a mode of transportation, and a level of crew specialization, and wherein the acuity score is matched, independently or in unison, with the transportation mode, the crew specialization level, and the appropriate receiving location; 
 receiving, by a transport request module (TRM), the acuity score and the transport plan, generating by the TRM a transport request that includes the acuity score and the transport plan, updating by the TRM one or more dashboards, including a dispatcher dashboard on the dispatch computing device at a transport center, with the transport request, and receiving, by the TRM, a receiver (receiving location) acceptance response for the transport request from the dispatch computing device; 
 converting, by a mission planning and tracking module (MPTM), the accepted transport request into a transport mission that assigns an appropriate vehicle to transport the patient, and that optionally assigns one or more crew members having the level of crew specialization specified in the transport plan, receiving by the MPTM a crew acknowledgement, receiving, by the MPTM, real-time indication that the patient has been picked up for transport, and updating by the MPTM one or more dashboards, including the dispatcher dashboard, to provide a coordinated handshake between the sender, the receiver, and the dispatcher to efficiently transfer command and responsibility, consistent with the patient acuity score, for the patient from the sending location to the transport center, and wherein the updated one or more dashboards are concurrently displayed on the respective computing devices of the sender, receiver, and the dispatcher to provide the coordinated handshake; 
 receiving, by the MPTM, a real-time notification from the dispatcher that the patient has been delivered to the receiving location, and updating by the MPTM one or more dashboards, including the dispatcher dashboard, to provide a coordinated handshake between the sender, the receiver, and the dispatcher to efficiently transfer command and responsibility for the patient from the transport center to the receiving location; and closing the transport mission by the MPTM, wherein the patient is transported from the sending location to the receiving location, and wherein the updated one or more dashboards are concurrently displayed on the respective computing devices of the sender, receiver, and the dispatcher to provide the coordinated handshake. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to receiving the inputted patient and transportation information by the acuity module, accessing, over the network, the acuity module using the sender computing device to display the interface providing the one or more input screens for inputting the patient and transportation information. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to receiving, by the transport request module the acceptance response from the dispatcher, the transport request module receives a rejection response from the dispatcher, and the transport request module generates the transport request with an alternate receiving location. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving by the MPTM a crew acknowledgement, comprises updating, by the MPTM, one or more dashboards of a crew computing device connected to the network at a transport base to display the crew assignment, and receiving, by the MPTM, a crew acknowledgement from the crew computing device. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the appropriate vehicle and/or the one or more crew members assigned by the MPTM may be initially selected by the dispatcher by inputting the vehicle and/or the crew member information in a mission input screen displayed on the dispatch computing device. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein assigning, by the MPTM, the appropriate transport vehicle and optionally assigning the one or more crew members having the level of crew specialization specified in the transport plan, comprises use of a hard asset deployment module, and optionally a crew assignment module, respectively. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein assigning the transport vehicle by the hard asset deployment module, and optionally assigning the one or more crew members by the crew assignment module, comprises use of a vehicle profile dataset and a crew profile dataset, respectively. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein assigning the transport vehicle by the hard asset deployment module, and optionally assigning the one or more crew members by the crew assignment module, comprises use of the vehicle profile dataset and the crew profile dataset to calculate weight, balance, and fuel requirements. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein assigning, by the MPTM, the appropriate transport vehicle and optionally assigning the one or more crew members, comprises use of a weather evaluation module. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein assigning, by the MPTM, the appropriate transport vehicle and optionally assigning the one or more crew members, comprises consideration/optimization of one or more of resource availability, proximity, efficiency, cost, or reimbursement. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein assigning, by the MPTM, the appropriate transport vehicle and optionally assigning the one or more crew members, comprises assignment of a vehicle based on comparison of historical transport mission data between or among a plurality of transport bases. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein after transferring command and responsibility for the patient from the sending location to the transport center, and prior to receiving notification from the dispatcher that the patient has been delivered to the receiving location, the position of the transport vehicle is tracked by the MPTM to provide a vehicle location and an estimated time of arrival. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein during patient transport the MPTM updates one or more dashboards, including the dispatcher dashboard, with changes to the patient's condition based on input from the assigned crew. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , wherein during patient transport the MPTM updates one or more dashboards, including the dispatcher dashboard, with the vehicle location and the estimated time of arrival, and/or updates an accessible vehicle position dataset. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , wherein closing the transport mission by the MPTM, comprises prior receipt of a close instruction from the sender, the receiver, and/or the dispatcher. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , comprising sending, by the MPTM, a mission summary to the sending and/or receiving locations. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving, over the network by the AM, inputted patient and transportation information from the sender computing device, comprises receiving the patient and the transportation information from the receiver and/or the dispatcher. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the acuity score and/or the transportation plan by the AM and/or converting the accepted transport request into the transport mission by the MPTM further comprises accessing one or more static or dynamic mission control datasets. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the mission control data sets comprise one or more of a diagnosis-based protocol dataset, a vehicle profile dataset, a crew profile dataset, a hospital dataset, a weather dataset, an airport conditions dataset, or a vehicle position dataset. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 1 , wherein any computing device connected to the network for use in the method may be implemented as a computing device ( 12 ) or a mobile communication device ( 300 ). 
     
     
       21. A triaged patient transport method for use with a mission control computing device configured to execute and implement one or more application modules, and in operative communication over a network with a sender computing device, a dispatch computing device, and a receiver computing device, each operable to display one or more dashboards and/or input screens, and with one or more static or dynamic mission control datasets, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a transport request module (TRM), patient and transportation information inputted from the sender computing device and/or from the dispatch computing device at a transport center, generating by the TRM a transport request that includes an acuity score and a transport plan, wherein the transport plan comprises a sending location, an appropriate receiving location, a mode of transportation, and a level of crew specialization, and wherein the acuity score is matched, independently or in unison, with the transportation mode, the crew specialization level, and the appropriate receiving location, updating by the TRM one or more dashboards, including a dispatcher dashboard on the dispatch computing device, with the transport request, and receiving, by the TRM, a receiver (receiving location) acceptance response for the transport request from the dispatch computing device; 
 converting, by a mission planning and tracking module (MPTM), the accepted transport request into a transport mission that assigns an appropriate vehicle to transport the patient, and that optionally assigns one or more crew members having the level of crew specialization specified in the transport plan, receiving by the MPTM a crew acknowledgement, receiving, by the MPTM, real-time indication that the patient has been picked up for transport, and updating by the MPTM one or more dashboards, including the dispatcher dashboard, to provide a coordinated handshake between the sender, the receiver and the dispatcher to efficiently transfer command and responsibility, consistent with the patient acuity score, for the patient from the sending location to the transport center, and wherein the updated one or more dashboards are concurrently displayed on the respective computing devices of the sender, receiver, and the dispatcher to provide the coordinated handshake; 
 receiving, by the MPTM, a real-time notification from the dispatcher that the patient has been delivered to the receiving location, and updating by the MPTM one or more dashboards, including the dispatcher dashboard, to provide a coordinated handshake between the sender, the receiver, and the dispatcher to efficiently transfer command and responsibility for the patient from the transport center to the receiving location; and closing the transport mission by the MPTM, wherein the patient is transported from the sending location to the receiving location, and wherein the updated one or more dashboards are concurrently displayed on the respective computing devices of the sender, receiver, and the dispatcher to provide the coordinated handshake. 
 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21 , further comprising, prior to receiving the inputted patient and transportation information by the TRM, accessing, over the network, the TRM using the dispatch computing device to display the interface providing the one or more input screens for inputting the patient and transportation information. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 21 , further comprising, prior to receiving, by the TRM, the acceptance response from the dispatcher, the TRM receives a rejection response from the dispatcher, and the TRM generates the transport request with an alternate receiving location. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 21 , wherein receiving by the MPTM a crew acknowledgement, comprises updating, by the MPTM, one or more dashboards of a crew computing device connected to the network at a transport base to display the crew assignment, and receiving, by the MPTM, a crew acknowledgement from the crew computing device. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the appropriate vehicle and/or the one or more crew members assigned by the MPTM may be initially selected by the dispatcher by inputting the vehicle and/or the crew member information in a mission input screen displayed on the dispatch computing device. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 21 , wherein assigning, by the MPTM, the appropriate transport vehicle and optionally assigning the one or more crew members having the level of crew specialization specified in the transport plan, comprises use of a hard asset deployment module, and optionally a crew assignment module, respectively. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 26 , wherein assigning the transport vehicle by the hard asset deployment module, and optionally assigning the one or more crew members by the crew assignment module, comprises use of a vehicle profile dataset and a crew profile dataset, respectively. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 27 , wherein assigning the transport vehicle by the hard asset deployment module, and optionally assigning the one or more crew members by the crew assignment module, comprises use of the vehicle profile dataset and the crew profile dataset to calculate weight, balance, and fuel requirements. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 21 , wherein assigning, by the MPTM, the appropriate transport vehicle and optionally assigning the one or more crew members, comprises use of a weather evaluation module. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 21 , wherein assigning, by the MPTM, the appropriate transport vehicle and optionally assigning the one or more crew members, comprises consideration/optimization of one or more of resource availability, proximity, efficiency, cost, or reimbursement. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 21 , wherein assigning, by the MPTM, the appropriate transport vehicle and optionally assigning the one or more crew members, comprises assignment of a vehicle based on comparison of historical transport mission data between or among a plurality of transport bases. 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 21 , wherein after transferring command and responsibility for the patient from the sending location to the transport center, and prior to receiving notification from the dispatcher that the patient has been delivered to the receiving location, the position of the transport vehicle is tracked by the MPTM to provide a vehicle location and an estimated time of arrival. 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 32 , wherein during patient transport the MPTM updates one or more dashboards, including the dispatcher dashboard, with changes to the patient's condition based on input from the assigned crew. 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 32 , wherein during patient transport the MPTM updates one or more dashboards, including the dispatcher dashboard, with the vehicle location and the estimated time of arrival, and/or updates an accessible vehicle position dataset. 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 21 , wherein closing the transport mission by the MPTM, comprises prior receipt of a close instruction from the sender, the receiver, and/or the dispatcher. 
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 21 , comprising sending, by the MPTM, a mission summary to the sending and/or receiving locations. 
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 21 , wherein receiving, over a network by the TRM, inputted patient and transportation information, comprises receiving the patient and the transportation information from the receiver and/or the dispatcher. 
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 21 , wherein generating the transport request by the TRM and/or converting the accepted transport request into the transport mission by the MPTM further comprises accessing one or more static or dynamic mission control datasets. 
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 38 , wherein the mission control data sets comprise one or more of a diagnosis-based protocol dataset, a vehicle profile dataset, a crew profile dataset, a hospital dataset, a weather dataset, an airport conditions dataset, or a vehicle position dataset. 
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 21 , wherein any computing device connected to the network for use in the method may be implemented as a computing device ( 12 ) or a mobile communication device ( 300 ). 
     
     
       41. A system for triaging patients for transport from a sending location to a receiving location by matching patient acuity with transport and recipient resources over a network, comprising:
 a sender computing device; 
 a dispatch computing device; 
 a receiver computing device; 
 one or more static or dynamic mission control datasets stored in memory; and 
 a mission control computing device, in operative communication over a network with the sender computing device, the dispatch computing device, and the datasets, and configured to execute and implement one or more application modules, including: 
 an acuity module (AM) operative to: display an interface providing one or more input screens on the sender computing device for inputting patient and transportation information by a sender; receive the inputted patient and transportation information; and generate a patient acuity score and a transportation plan, wherein the transportation plan comprises a sending location, a receiving location, a mode of transportation, and a level of crew specialization, and wherein in generating the transportation plan the acuity score is matched, independently or in unison, with the transportation mode, the level of crew specialization, and the receiving location; 
 a transport request module (MM) operative to: receive the acuity score and the transport plan from the AM; generate a transport request that includes the acuity score and the transport plan; update one or more dashboards, including a dispatcher dashboard displayed on the dispatch computing device at a transport center, with the transport request; and receive a receiver (receiving location) acceptance response for the transport request from a dispatcher; and 
 a mission planning and tracking module (MPTM) operative to: convert the accepted transport request into a transport mission that assigns an appropriate vehicle to transport the patient and optionally assigns one or more crew members having the level of crew specialization specified in the transport plan; receive real-time indication that the patient has been picked up for transport, and update one or more dashboards including the dispatcher dashboard to provide a coordinated handshake between the sender, the receiver and the dispatcher to efficiently transfer command and responsibility, consistent with the patient acuity score, for the patient from the sending location to the transport center; receive a real-time notification from the dispatcher that the patient has been delivered to the receiving location, and update one or more dashboards, including the dispatcher dashboard, to provide a coordinated handshake between the sender, the receiver and the dispatcher to efficiently transfer command and responsibility for the patient from the transport center to the receiving location; and close the transport mission, and wherein the updated one or more dashboards are concurrently displayed on the respective computing devices of the sender, receiver and the dispatcher to provide the coordinated handshakes. 
 
     
     
       42. The system of  claim 41 , further comprising a crew/base computing device, in each case operatively connected to the network. 
     
     
       43. The system of  claim 42 , wherein the system comprises a crew computing device, and wherein the MPTM is operative to update one or more dashboards of the crew computing device to display the crew assignment, and to receive a crew acknowledgement from the crew computing device. 
     
     
       44. The system of  claim 41 , wherein the system further comprises a hard asset deployment module, and/or a crew assignment module, and wherein the MPTM is operative with one or both of said modules in assigning the appropriate transport vehicle and optionally in assigning the one or more crew members. 
     
     
       45. The system of  claim 44 . wherein the hard asset deployment module and the crew assignment module are operative to access a vehicle profile dataset and/or a crew profile dataset to calculate one or more of weight, balance, or fuel requirements in assigning the transport vehicle and optionally in assigning the one or more crew members, respectively. 
     
     
       46. The system of  claim 41 , further comprising a weather evaluation module, and wherein the MPTM is operative to use the weather evaluation module in assigning the appropriate transport vehicle and optionally in assigning the one or more crew members. 
     
     
       47. The system of  claim 41 , wherein the MPTM is operative, during patient transport, to track the position of the transport vehicle to provide a vehicle location and an estimated time of arrival, to update one or more dashboards, including the dispatcher dashboard, with the vehicle location and the estimated time of arrival, and/or update an accessible vehicle position dataset, and/or to update one or more dashboards, including the dispatcher dashboard, with changes to the patient's condition based on input from the assigned crew. 
     
     
       48. The system of  claim 41 , wherein the AM, the MPTM, and/or the TRM are operative to access the one or more static or dynamic mission control datasets. 
     
     
       49. The system of  claim 48 , wherein the one or more mission control data sets comprises one or more of a diagnosis-based protocol dataset, a vehicle profile dataset, a crew profile dataset, a hospital dataset, a weather dataset, an airport conditions dataset, or a vehicle position dataset. 
     
     
       50. The system of  claim 49 , wherein the diagnosis-based protocol dataset comprises predetermined protocols for treating different medical conditions; wherein the vehicle profile dataset comprises information for one or more of fuel, speed, fuel consumption, or weight limits for each vehicle; wherein the crew profile dataset comprises weight and/or experience information each of the crew members; wherein the hospital dataset stores information about each hospital that may function as either the sending location or the receiving location; wherein the weather dataset stores information about the current weather; wherein the airport conditions dataset stores the condition of one or more airports that may be used to complete a transport mission; and wherein the vehicle position dataset stores positions of those vehicles currently conducting missions. 
     
     
       51. The system of  claim 41 , wherein any computing device connected to the network for use in the method may be implemented as a computing device ( 12 ) or a mobile communication device ( 300 ). 
     
     
       52. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing the method according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       53. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing the method according to  claim 21 .